Vocalobluster: Climbing the Heights of Hype!

Most of us would have known by now that the VOCALOID album: EXIT TUNES PRESENTS Vocalocluster is set to release on the 19th October 2011, which is 2 days from now. But that is not the whole reason for this article. As some might have noted, there was a change in the official website for the album. Under the Special Game button on top of the front page, there lies a very special treat for all of us. Presenting the Vocalocluster Climber!

Vocalocluster Climber is a very simple flash game featuring Hatsune Miku as she climbs onto a gigantic negi which seems to be reaching the clouds. Miku will start off by running in between the two ends of a floor and it’s up to you, fellow player, to click whenever you deem right to have her jump! The goal is to reach as high as you can without falling through the gaps on the floors. Scores are earned by reaching new floors.
But it is not as simple as stated… The game has seemingly randomized floor patterns and has collectible items along the way. These items do not change anything in term of gameplay, but there is a page dedicated to collected items on the start screen. Though, there are factors which will decide how well you’ll do in the game. There are 4 types of floors: the most common brick floor, the ice floor, the glass floor and the treadmill floor. Attentions need to be paid to the ice, glass and treadmill floors! Ice slows down Miku’s speed, thus shortening the jump distance, glass breaks when you jump off it, and the treadmill moves in one direction, which effectively slows or hastes Miku accordingly. There are also springs littered throughout the floors which will propel Miku to great heights if jumped on, these springs will make or break your attempts at high score. Since there is no time limit imposed, you can spend your time planning ahead before taking the leap!

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The following are screenshots taken by this author:

Start screen

Apparently, this author is not as good as the insanely good players in the top-10. There are rare achievements that will only appear after reaching high enough score thresholds.
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As shown above, Vocalocluster Climber looks like a game from decades ago and the sound effects are just as cute! Being voiced by Miku herself, the game actually had this author playing it for a day before getting started on this article. The art style might seem very familiar for those who follow Pixiv or other image hosting sites. The artist in question is Eromame , who is known for some exceedingly cute illustrations!

Also, a cycle of the tracks that will accompany the album are played as you make your way through the infinite floors up the negi tower. The tracks are listed below:

01. Miraisen / 1640mP(164 × 40mP) feat. Hatsune Miku
02. Hello, Worker / KEI feat. Megurine Luka
03. Distopia Zipangu / cosMo＠BousouP feat. GUMI
04. ACUTE / KurousaP feat. Hatsune Miku, Megurine Luka, KAITO
05. ReAct / KurousaP feat. Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len
06. Ah, Subarishiki Nyansei / Nem feat. GUMI, Kagamine Len
07. Tokyo Teddy Bear / Neru feat. Kagamine Rin
08. Gaikotsu Gakudan to Lilia / Touma feat. Hatsune Miku
09. Kagefumi Etranger / Substreet feat. Hatsune Miku
10. BadBye / koma’n feat. Hatsune Miku
11. Karakuri Manji Burst / HitoshizukuP × Yama△ feat. Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len
12. Majo / SuzukiP feat. Megurine Luka
13. Otetsunagi / otetsu feat. Kamui Gakupo
14. Arrest Rose / SCL Project(natsuP) feat. VanaN’Ice
15. Yumeutsutsu / Another Infinity feat. Hatsune Miku

These songs can also be found through this
16. PASSIONAIRE / yanagi feat. MEIKO
17. FLOWER TAIL / yuukiss feat. KAITO
18. The Endless Love / HSP(HanasoumenP) feat. Hatsune Miku

These songs can also be found through this tag in NND!

or those who are interested, the album is available to order from Amazon now! It will cost a mere 2000yen or roughly $26 USD and it comes with gifts listed below. Several of these gifts were designed by Kanzaki Hiro, otherwise known as Hiroyuki Oda and HanasoumenP.
- mousepad designed by Kanzaki Hiro, with his reproduced autograph (limited number),
- fake credit card designed by Kanzaki Hiro,
- mobile phone strap designed by Kanzaki Hiro (limited number),
- multi-use Yupo Suction Tack (TM) sticker* for smartphones or smart cards,
- transparent Vocalocluster file folder for all those who answer the questionnaire shipped with the CD,
- picture label (colorful images put on the CD themselves, often used for first-press editions),
- sleeve case.
Finally, if you’ve come to like the songs for the album, do consider to support the producers by purchasing the album! I’m sure the gifts are secondary to what the producers would feel from about the number of people who would show supports for them!

Source: HatsuneMikumiku (Japanese)